The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-27
IN THE DENVER STAGE.

in Denver Colo. reached Its climax Whei
Cant Bill Cummings drove the Leadvll'
coach out Of the stable yard and pulled M
I'm front Of the United States hotel IN
anticipation Of the great daily event
crowd always began 10 gather an hour Oh
two before the time set for the stage
departure. To pass the time pleasantly
the crowd all of whom wore big slOucf
hats and carried pistols specialized on the
chances Of the stages getting 20 its destt
nation and told wild stories of the last
time Capt. Bill had been "held up. ~ and
how much the express company had lost
when the highwaymcn broke open the box
after killing the messenger II was AZ
this time of day when the bar did its big
gest business. and if any one among the
crowd let il be known that he was an ad.
venturous traveller, and intended making
the trip to Leadyille, he was straightway
assailed on all sides by invitations 10 try
the United States best whisky and adj
vice was shOwered on him as 10 how he
should behave in case the stage should
suddenly come to halt, and the cry OF
"Hold up your hands, gentlemen, ' should
sound in the night air
The stage always left Denver in the
afternoon. because by so doing the country
Immediately surrounding the city which
was considered comparatively safe, could
be traversed during the hours Of dark, and
the hours Of daylight could be utilized 10
pass through those mountain gorges and
ravines where danger lurked behind every
bowlder, and around any curve Of which a
gang Of heavily armed and masked men
l.. 70. ba
Of their valuables and TO use their
weapons if tho slightest resistance was
offered.
All this is changed now. The United
States hotel has been relegated 10 the
place of a second class hostelry. There
are now no crowds about its doors and
only an occasional prospector from the
hills, whose hard luck has forced him TO
return 20 the big city 10 renew his stock Of
provisions, can be seen about its deserted
halls with his feet resting against the
big stove meditatiyely eXpectOrating to-
bacco Juice on the sauded floor The
glories Of the old stage are also passed. IL
is saved from destruction. however, by
some Of the old settlers who still have a
pride in it for the sake Of the dangers it
vile was completed and the stage route
had to be abandoned. these men bought
the stage They built "A stable for IL
down on Carmine street, and there 10
stands today forgotten by everybody eX
cept the few who pay for its keep, and by
Capt Bill. who used 10 sit proudly on
the box and steer it through dangers, the
thought Of which would turn an ordinary
mans nan gray
A short time ago while in Denver, ]
was taken 10 the stable and shown the
old stage II is not much 10 look at now.
The paint has been worn of tine sides
and the leather curtains. which used t0
be neatly rolled up. now hang down aud
mournfully flap in the wind. While ], with
Dy guide. a member Of congress stood look
ing at the old stage and trying 10
imagine some Of the scenes through which
it. had passed the stable door opened
and an old man entered Although the
new comer's long beard was gray and the
hair which hung far down on his shout
ders from under his broad sombrero was
white. he moved with such an easy
swinging carriage and stood so erect that
he appeared some fifteen or twenty years
younger than he really was. What could
he seen of his face was tanned by constant
exposure 10 a color which much resembled
well cured alligator skin. His eyes we've
very light blue and had very peculiar
way Of peeping out from the wrinkles in
which they were set, as though he were
on the lookout for something sensational.
After | had seen the look Of affection
which he cast at the old stage ! was not
surprised when my friend introduced him
as Capt. Bill Cummings, the famous
driver. At first Cummings seemed dis
inclined to talk and appeared to think
that my questions were prompted solely
by idle curiosity, but after a while he re-
Tented. He climbed up 10 his old place on
the box. where he had passed through so
many dangers. and after politely waving
my friend and myself tOa couple Of empty
barrels which stood in one corner Of the
stable he began 10 talk.
eyes, " he said. "this old stage has seen
many fight. and been through lots of
dangers. but the toughest time 10 ever had
was in Is and g. in those years the
hills between here and LeadYille were in
tested by the worst gang of stage robbers
that were ever known IN this region. 1t
was not that they were any worse than
other gangs. but they were under the
leadership of n man whose deyilish cum
ming was such that IL seemed impossible
To corner him or even To find out exactly
who he was. He tried it ON once too
often. however and when his identity was
made known after his death il turned the
whole city Of Denver upside down for a
week. There was at that time a business
house on Laramie street, where all the
miners went to get their supplies. The
head Of ii was one Of our most enterpris-
ing citizens and generally respected and
looked up To- His nare was Amos Y.
Townsend II had been reported that
some of the stage robbers had been heard
to call their leader Amos, but no one
ever dreamt Of connecting the famous
desperate and the respected mer-
chant together One night inst be
fore the stage was 10 leave Denver | was
taken aside by friend and was told TO
take particular care as one Of my passen-
gers was going 20 Leadvlle 10 purchase
some mining properties and had small
fortune i'll his belt The would be mine
owner was pointed out to me He was a
young fellow with a quiet, determined ap-
pearance, who seemed well able 10 take
care of himself Besides him there was
only one other inside passenger, whom
took TO be tenderfoOt from his nervous
manner and the absence of any weapons